Arsenal 2-0 Southampton: Dominant Gunners move back into top four

Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been directly taking into account each and every of Arsenal’s four Premier League targets in opposition to Southampton this season – three targets and one abet

Arsenal punished struggling Southampton with two first-half of targets to pass lend a hand into the tip four of the Premier League.

The Gunners led when Alexandre Lacazette reacted quickest to turn in Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s shot, with the Saints’ claims for offside proving futile.

And they doubled their lead shortly after when Mkhitaryan drilled a shot into the bottom corner.

Arsenal could well also just tranquil dangle scored extra in a dominant first half of, nonetheless within the atomize it mattered minute as these targets dangle been adequate to pass Unai Emery’s aspect above Manchester United, who drew at dwelling to Liverpool.

Saints, who missed proper possibilities thru Nathan Redmond and Matt Targett before each and every of Arsenal’s targets, equipped extra resistance after the atomize.

However they continue to be within the bottom three, a degree adrift of fourth-bottom Cardiff, after failing to accumulate for a fourth successive league sport.

Apply all of the reaction from Sunday’s Premier League games

Attain Arsenal could well also just tranquil be extra ruthless to precise high-four carry out?

Arsenal dangle struggled for consistency below Emery within the 2nd half of of the season, alternating between wins and defeats in each and every of their 10 earlier fits before Southampton’s talk about over with.

In actual fact, one thing else rather than a dwelling accumulate in opposition to the Saints looked unlikely. Then all all over again, Emery would agonize with his aspect’s incapacity to rupture their lowly opponents.

The Gunners looked potent at any time when they burst forward, significantly within the first half of, and within the closing phases, in opposition to a Southampton aspect which looked fragile on the lend a hand.

Lacazette used to be allowed the attach to turn within the opener, with the guests’ defence unorganised and too desirous about appealing for offside, for his thirteenth blueprint of the season.

After Mkhitaryan doubled the lead, the France striker could well also just tranquil dangle added one other nonetheless a formula or the other scooped over the bar from a couple of yards out.

Arsenal’s dominance used to be illustrated by the 11 shots which they tried within the first half of, nine of which came from at some stage within the Saints attach.

After the atomize they didn’t notify themselves in a identical vogue, until Pierre-Emerick’s Aubameyang’s introduction as a slack substitute stretched the guests all all over again.

The Gabon striker used to be unable to add to his 18 targets for the season, tamely aspect-footing at Saints keeper Angus Gunn from shut range and seeing one other effort blocked by Jannik Vestergaard’s sliding self-discipline.

Within the atomize, they tranquil had adequate to witness off Southampton, nonetheless have a tendency to love to be sharper within the final third within the occasion that they’re to discontinue before United and Chelsea to precise a return to the Champions League next season.

That’s additionally significantly pertinent as, regardless of protecting a uncommon neat sheet, they tranquil wanted keeper Bernd Leno to be alert to prevent Southampton discovering a foothold within the sport.

What’s next?

Every teams are lend a hand in Premier League action at 19:45 GMT on Wednesday.

Arsenal host Tenth-placed Bournemouth as they blueprint to invent an eighth-straight dwelling accumulate within the Premier League.

Saints, within the period in-between, face 2nd-bottom Fulham in a crunch relegation fight.